Value on a piece of jewellery
From Mod Mania
THE VALUE ON A PIECE OF JEWELLERY
Rings, necklaces, bracelets, small objects that a lot of people use when they leave their homes to the streets, but why with such a small object worn in our bodies have such a significance/ value us? Different reasons could be the answer, each human are living kinds that wants to be different from each others therefore they wear accessories to be ‘different’ from other ones, for women could be a symbol of beauty, or even most commonly a symbol of a community
Since long time ago jewellery was created by human kind, way back to the Middle Stone Age 75,000 to 100,00o year ago. They were simply made from natural resources, such as animal teeth or bones, different types of shells, stone or wood, and usually used for decoration but as a functional item to fasten clothing together. As time passed it gain the value of being simply aesthetic ornamentation or a spiritual and religious symbol. As man evolved jewellery became more and more valuable not just as symbol of wealth and status, to protect against harm, protection from evil and heal ailments, but the value of the jewellery as a symbol of a community or group that nowadays still remains in this society
Jewellery that symbolizes a community/ tribe is one of the most visible of jewellery that has a great value embedded in it. One of the tribes that have this value embedded in its jewellery since the primitive times is the Mayanmar Tribe. This Mayanmar Tribe is situated in Burma known as Kayan (‘long neck’) uses successive bras coils as neck rings that cause as well a body modification. This coils although causes pain and dimorphism but it has a great value for them and that is the confederative of their tribal identity as well as the symbol of great beauty and wealth. Another interesting value that is embedded into this jewellery is that after worn for ten years the neck rings are actually considered as parts of their bodies, the value increases because human could emotionally put value to their jewelleries
There is various more types of tribes that wears a particular jewellery that has a great value in symbolizing their community but if we look better in our modern culture, although the jewellery is worn by almost every single one of us is hard to realize that jewellery in this modern culture also has a great value and meaning embedded in it and is just a matter in observing and finding it out
One of the most common jewelry with great value/ meaning in is the engagement rings and the wedding rings. Wedding rings were firstly created by Acients Egyptians, where they are fascinated with the circle which is with no break, no beginning therefore meaning never ending immortal love and used in forth finger because they believed that it contains a special vein that directly connects to the heart. Through time other places also created its meaning to their rings that will influence the meaning of the rings in modern days, for example for Romans the wedding rings were a symbol of ownership of the woman, for Europeans a promise and loyalty of love, etc. Although nowadays people take these rings for granted but also honesty and love, a lot of us do not know the true meaning of these rings. This jewellery are more than just a ring, is emotional symbol and especially a promise, a promise of love, commitment, loyalty, eternity and honor and even could symbolized a agreement of the family in joining together.
Another common jewellery that is considered as important and significant jewellery is jellelleries given by members of its own family, the inherited jewellery. Could be any type of jewellery such as rings, necklaces, pendants, ear-rings, bracelets, etc., but in each single piece of these objects is considered with high value by the receiver. When the past owner has passed away is just like the spirit has embedded into this object. It is a symbol of the family and more importantly a symbol of the presence of its past owner. For example a lot of Chinese culture they have jewelleries made by jade which is considered as a very delicate stone that has a special spiritual position in Chinese minds as morality, merit, grace and honor and even indicates loyalty, elegance, beauty and eternity. Passing this jewelry is not anymore as the value of the stone itself but all the meaningful qualities that are embedded towards it. Is a stone of meaning and a meaningfull object passed by the family. In my opinion I think this type of jewellery has the most honorable and immense significance, is just like being acknowledged by my own family, that I am part of it, that I am the next generation that has to carry this will of my family.
Apart from common valued jewelleries there are also sub-groups that have remarkable jewellery in our modern culture that are recognizable in our society and one of them is the Punk jewellery.
There are amounts of websites which will teach you which type of clothing or jewellery that are particularly worn by different sub-groups of punk culture. Most of them try to create a sense of individuality and self-expression in which embrace them from the norm and aimed to shock with also a bit of attitude and rebellion. One very important aspect of this group is that they are very into the idea of the anti-consumerism, therefore they use everyday objects as jewellery and the safety pin is one of the most significant jewellery that symbolizes this culture and also their way of living. Other jewellery used that makes this group stand out is jewelleries that has spikes or leather that symbolizes the aspect of being hard and tough, that they are not scared of the society
Even though a lot of jewellery are now worn as a sense of symbolizing a community there are still jewelleries worn that has a value towards a part of an religion or even as an object that has protecting significance just like our antecessors did For example people that belong to a catholic religion wears a cross or crucifix that symbolizes Jesus Christ, is just like a promise, a symbol that they belong and believe the catholic religion that they are willing to follow and have faith towards it. Although there are other types of jewellery that symbolizes different events through out the story of the religion, the cross or crucifix is be the most recognizable for the modern community as a union with Jesus Christ. Jewellery could appear nowadays as a decoration that we carry with us, but if we look better they all have values and signifies something that makes all of us different from others. They are special in a way such as a symbol of a group, a memory, and honor or, as simple as, a symbol of beauty which most of us purchase for this single simple reason.
References: Tribe’s jewellery http://www.khulsey.com/jewelry/jewelry_history_primitive_ethnic_tribal.html http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Giraffe-Women-of-the-Neck-Rings-37412.shtml http://www.peoplesoftheworld.org/text?people=Karen
Gothic/ punk http://www.wikihow.com/Dress-Punk-at-a-Catholic-School http://www.ehow.com/video_4409045_punk-jewelry.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punk_fashion http://www.stillstandingpunkrock.com/category/punk/
Catholic http://www.the-jewellery.com/catholic/ http://www.patriotic-jewelry.com/religious_jewelry.htm http://www.catholicjewelry.net/miraculousmedal.html http://www.catholicshopper.com/jewelry/
Wedding rings http://ezinearticles.com/?The-History-of-Engagement-Rings-and-Wedding-Bands&id=24579 http://www.our-wedding-plans.co.uk/rings.htm http://hubpages.com/hub/wedding-rings-history
Jade Jewellery http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/arts/jade.htm
